Improved skate-fastening



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE PHILIP SOHIFFLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED SKATE-FASTENING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 1,399. dated January26, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, GEORGE PHILIP SCHIFFLIN, of the city, county, andState of New York, have invented a new and Improved Skate-Fastening; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure lrepresents a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverseverticalseetion of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the twofigures.

This invention consists in the employment or use of revolvingcam-buttons attached to the sides of the runners and acting upon theends of the straps which serve to fasten the skate to the foot in such amanner that by turning the cam-button after the strap has been drawntight the end is firmly clamped between the edge of the slot in therunner through which it passes and the point of said cam-button, and theordinary buckles or other tedious fastenings can be dispensed with.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe it.

A. represents the foot-plate of my skate, which Inay be made to extendthroughout the entire sole of the shoe, or which may be made in sectionsto support the heel and toe part of the foot, as shown in Fig. l of thedrawings. This foot-plate is supported by the runner B,

which may be made with projecting supports a, as shown in the drawings,or which may be constructed in any other desirable manner.

C C are the straps which serve to fasten the foot down uponthe'footeplate, one at the heel and the other at the toes. The first endof each of these straps is fastened to the under side of the foot-plateA by means of rivets, or in any other suitable manner, and after havingpassed round the foot the loose end is drawn through a slot7 b, in therunner, and finally through a loop attached to the outer surface of saidstrap, as clearly shown in the drawings.

In order to fasten the straps after the same have been drawn tight, Iuse cano-buttons c, which are fastened to'the side of the runner bymeans of pivots d, and provided with small handles e, whereby they canbe turned in either direction. These cam-buttons are in close proximityto the slots b in the runner, and they are so shaped that the same whenturned down do not obstruct the passage of the straps through saidslots, but when turned up to the position shown in the drawings theyclamp the straps between their points and the edges of the slots andretain the same perfectly firm and tight. Y

The advantages of this mode of fastening the straps are apparent. In therst placethe strap can be drawn up just as tight as it is wanted andfastened securely at the desired point, whereas with the ordinarybuckles 'the strap may be too loose in one hole and too tight in thenext, and by cutting too many holes in the strap it is weakened andspoiled. Furthermore, the cam-buttons which I use to fasten the strapscan be operated with the greatest ease. They are turned up or downinstantaneously, and no extra exertion is'required either to fasten orto unfasten thestrap; and, finally, the oost of my fastening is verytriliing. My buttons can be made and attached at less expense than theordinary buckles and the straps preserve their full strength.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :is-

The employment or use of the earn-buttons c, attached to the runner B ofa skate, and acting on the straps O in the Inanner and for the purposesubstantially as herein shown and described.

GEO. PHIL. SOHIFFLIN.

Vitnesses:

Tues. L. J. DoUGLAs, D. RonEErsoN.

